2016 Lexus RX450h F Sport AWD Review

The Lexus RX, the most popular brand offer, has been redesigned for model year 2016. Despite the decline in gas prices and the resulting drop in demand for Lexus hybrid would not give up the hybrid RX (which dates back to 2005, very before any manufacturer offered a luxury hybrid SUV). Lexus instead has sought to strengthen its appeal beyond obsessed mileage, especially for offering the hybrid with F Sport trim for the first time.

The F Sport Package ($ 3,410) is offered only in all-wheel drive models and includes striking images, such as grid in black, black caps side mirror, a front and rear lower restyled bumper and 20-inch wheels. It also brings an adaptive variable suspension and a Sport + setting for the transmission mode. These settings lead to response to changes in the throttle and (Eco), the temperature control function with the Sport +, in addition to changing the steering assistance and the development of the damper; However, there are significant differences between them only in the mapping of the accelerator. How far you want to push the pedal before you get any action? If a batch, select the Eco mode; to select a moderate amount Normal; for a little ‘less, go with the Sport or Sport +. After playing with it for a while, “we just left in normal mode most of the time, the system defaults for each time you start the engine.

While the availability of F Sport trim is interesting, the hybrid exists to provide high fuel efficiency. The EPA classifies the RX450h at 31 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway in the form of front-wheel drive, a big jump from 20/28 mpg standard RX350. Comparing all-wheel drive models (as our test application), the hybrid is still impressive foot 30/28 mpg rating compared with 19/26 for the RX350. In our experience, however, the hybrid advantage over standard V-6 was not nearly as large: We saw 22 mpg for the RX450h against 19 for the RX350 all-wheel-drive. Of course, our 881 miles of testing in Michigan do not include both city driving where the hybrid is its biggest advantage, but that is still a small improvement over the standard model. (Note that when we arrived the hybrid around New York, we averaged 27 mpg, and also that the RX350 is pleased to drink regular fuel, while the hybrid or premium.)

On the track, test numbers the two models were neighbors. meetings of the hybrid powertrain for a total of 308 horses, against 295 for the RX350, but those extra ponies seem to be denied by additional 340 pounds of all-wheel-drive RX450h. The RX450h reaches 60 mph in 7.1 seconds 0.2 seconds behind the RX350 and the hybrid is fractionally (0.1 second and 2 mph) behind it in the quarter mile as well. 70mph braking took 178 feet, four feet longer than the RX350.

Which is a shame, because the RX is an attractive luxury vehicle in many other ways, especially the interior. plastic grain is practically nonexistent from the cabin, which features the padded surfaces, soft-touch, with diamond pattern stitching on the seats and door panels. The F Sport carries very comfortable front seats that hug the occupants with a moneyed design for additional lateral support. The RX also offers only two rows of seats (even if a three-row version can be on the road), and more slightly lower rear floor This latest step and made things even more comfortable for the drivers of the rear seats, which you will find generous accommodation. An optional panoramic sunroof is in the front and rear seats (the front slopes or slides open) helps to illuminate the cabin.

Functionally, the RX cabin uses a large central display of 12.3 inches (although the basic models make do with a smaller 8.0-inch) with a customizable home screen that shows one, two, or three elements-map, audio and phone , for example. On models with navigation, the driver activates the functions on the screen using mice Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI), which is strange and a little ‘distraction to use. (Vehicles without navigation have a more conventional button controller instead it.) the good news about RTI is that you can usually avoid it, since there is a lot of physical buttons, also for the choice of paper, go back one step, selecting the audio source, and operating most climate control functions. There is also very welcome buttons to control the volume and tuning.

More than any of these, the technology that seems of dubious value is the hybrid system itself. The RX450h starts at US $ 53,185, which is US $ 10.335 more than the RX350. The same price difference applies to versions traction to all four wheels. In our experience, that spending more does not bring much greater fuel economy, while drivers who spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic, no doubt, would see a bigger hybrid advantage. In these days of cheap gasoline, however, it is difficult to make the case to spend less expensive RX350 in favor of RX450h, and the F Sport package is available on both.

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